NewDays, a Seattle-based digital health startup focused on cognitive care, has announced the close of a $7 million seed funding round led by General Catalyst and Madrona. The funding will support the expansion of its AI-powered treatment program for individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, with services now available in Texas following successful pilots in California, Washington, and Florida.
Founded by technologists Babak Parviz and Daniel Kelly, NewDays offers a science-backed intervention that combines telehealth appointments with licensed clinicians and frequent engagement with an AI companion named Sunny. Patients interact with Sunny through structured, long-form conversations designed to improve verbal fluency, memory, and emotional well-being. These exercises are personalized by clinicians based on patient interactions, creating a dynamic and responsive care model.
The program is built on evidence from over 300 clinical trials and more than 50 meta-analyses. One of them is exclusive access to the I-CONECT study—a landmark trial that showed how regular guided conversations can delay cognitive decline and reduce loneliness in older adults. Participants in NewDays’ early access program have reported high satisfaction, with all surveyed users saying they felt better after completing the full treatment regimen.
NewDays aims to address a significant gap in cognitive health care. In the U.S., one in three people over the age of 65 lives with either dementia or MCI, yet many are told to monitor their symptoms without actionable treatment options. By utilizing AI and remote care, NewDays makes cognitive rehabilitation more accessible and scalable than traditional models, which often rely on limited clinical resources.
The company’s founders bring deep experience in healthcare innovation and AI development. Parviz previously led healthcare initiatives at Amazon and founded the Google Glass project at Google X, while Kelly has led engineering teams at both companies. Their combined expertise has shaped NewDays into a platform that merges cutting-edge technology with clinical best practices.
NewDays is currently available in four states and plans to expand nationwide by the end of the year. The program offers free daily AI exercises to all users, with premium plans that include personalized treatment and clinician consultations, many of which are covered by insurance.
KEY QUOTES:
“For too long, people experiencing cognitive changes have been told there’s nothing they can do beyond maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preparing for decline. But the latest research shows there are non-pharmacological interventions that can meaningfully help, and advancements in AI let us take those game-changing findings and provide them widely in a way that wasn’t technologically possible even a couple of years ago.”
Babak Parviz, NewDays cofounder and CEO
“The I-CONECT study demonstrated that regular guided conversational engagement can significantly benefit cognitive function in older adults. For years, we’ve known these approaches work, but scaling them has been virtually impossible due to the limited availability of trained professionals and cost. NewDays represents a breakthrough in bringing scientifically validated cognitive rehabilitation to those who need it most.”
Hiroko Dodge, Ph.D., professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator of the I-CONECT study, who is an advisor to NewDays
“It works your mind. Memory loss is somewhat isolating, just by its nature. These steps are good because you’re reorienting yourself to complex thought without feeling nervous or judged.”
Frank Poulsen, 72, of Seattle, a participant in the early access program
“At General Catalyst, we’re focused on backing transformative healthcare solutions that make care more affordable, accessible, and proactive. NewDays exemplifies this approach, addressing a critical gap in cognitive health with a science-backed solution that puts patients first. Their combination of AI innovation with human clinical oversight represents the future of digital health.”
Holly Maloney, managing director, General Catalyst
“The NewDays team brings together world-class expertise in AI, technology innovation, and clinical neuropsychology. We’ve seen firsthand how AI is transforming industries, but few applications have the potential for such meaningful human impact as NewDays. Their approach to leveraging AI for cognitive health is precisely the kind of purposeful innovation we champion at Madrona.”
Tim Porter, managing director, Madrona
